The latest Hilton Park CD, Moments, offers much of the acoustic instrument beauty this Maine-based folk-rock trio has relied on in the past. Their singer-songwriter bent continues to sweep the listener away with the more familiar Hilton Park feeling and vibe, albeit more forlorn and wistful this time around.
Aside from this trio’s musical gifts, their real talent is making their listeners feel what they were feeling when they were writing these tunes. It doesn’t hurt that family friend Gregg Pannier plays all sorts of flavorful, colorful acoustics that make this album a tremendous salad bar for the soul.
“Mayfly Moment” opens with an electric piano melody that swiftly informs the listener that this trio is trying something else this time around. Its soulful application turns this whole song into a glorious expression of emotion. Lofty, sweeping vocals carry one away to a good place and the touches of slide guitar keep the song tastefully rooted in Americana territory.
“Stupid Game” unfurls its own special blend of instrumentation. Swift, thin acoustic guitar chords and brittle piano notes are pretty, engaging, and make a fine accompaniment to Bruce Hilton’s soft timbre and smooth delivery. The tune travels with an adventurous, spirited vibe that makes the listener feel he’s being carried away to some place special.
“Stories Of Everyday Life” is a brisk, twisty number woven with a bright tuft of acoustic guitar and piano. There is an emotive quality to Hilton’s vocal here, a wistful longing at something he knows will not last forever. He pushes the song along with his assertive crooning, a pulse in his technique, a bounce in his step born out of his pop applications. Rippling notes from mandolin and other acoustic dandies are like candy for the ears, their sounds being so sweet, adorning the sonic landscape with their own special musical statements.
“Lorelei” takes things down tempo, with a gently picked acoustic leaving a lot of space for Hilton and his son, Connor Hilton, to create something huge, tender, and special with just their voices. This tune just floats, suspended in mid air, giving off all kinds of sweet nuggets, becoming a thing of true beauty.
“September Fades” is a rich, lush vocal affair with a massively inviting chorus, engaging acoustic guitar chords, and a bright, sparkling piano line. Unfurling lead vocals ponder the meaning of a father-son relationship and the tender subject matter is beautifully rendered with these two heartfelt voices and their gentle, supportive interaction.
“Keep Away Close” feels dramatic and tense as it opens with a bracing piano line and the elder Hilton’s plaintive timbre. It’s as bright and melodic as anything The Beatles and The Bee Gees might have recorded back in the late 1960s. There are also slight changes in dynamics and other changes that make it feel epic. It could be placed in a tape among classic rock tracks and would likely make anyone think it was written and recorded back in the glory days of rock.
“Ginny Come On” is bright, simple pop ditty, one with lots of sweet flavoring from numerous melodic instruments. An acoustic lead guitar melody tickles the ear with its shiny notes while a more rambunctious acoustic keeps the groove going strong. Harmonic whistles and candy drop piano notes complete the picture and add to this pretty confection. It’s somewhere between “Yellow Submarine” and “Tie A Yellow Ribbon” in its friendly musical overtures.
Hilton Park close out with the soft gentle tones of “Be A Blessing.” It calls on everyone to be kind to the next person who comes into your life. It’s the way they present that message with a warm, sustained coo and a thicket of acoustic notes that make it feel as good as it sounds.
Hilton Park have done it again. They’ve come up with a brand new CD full of the kind of bright, brilliant music they’ve always been known for. This disc is a bit more somber than their previous albums but there is certainly beauty in every note sung and played here.
http://www.hiltonparkband.com/
